Lafourche Parish fires official for second time

Published: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 6:25 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 6:25 p.m.

Lafourche Parish has terminated its public information officer Logan Banks for the second time since last summer.

The parish fired him in the wake of Hurricane Isaac last year, but he filed a wrongful termination complaint and won.

In February, the Lafourche Parish Civil Service Board unanimously ruled Bank's firing in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Isaac was improperly handled by Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, and his job was reinstated.

Parish Administrator Archie Chiasson confirmed that Banks was let go last week but said he could not comment on a personnel decision.

Loralei Gilliam has been hired internally to replace Banks.

The spokesman acts as a liaison for media and crafts outreach efforts for the local government.

Banks' annual salary was $44,000, not including benefits.

Gilliam originally took over for Banks after he was first terminated, but when Banks reassumed the position Gilliam stayed on with parish government. She wouldn't say Monday what kind of work she has been doing for the parish.

Banks, who couldn't be reached for comment, claims he was the scapegoat for political pressure following parish government's attempts to communicate the conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf immediately following Isaac.

The civil service board discussed his firing in a closed executive session before agreeing Banks' termination failed to meet the guidelines set forth in a civil service manual dictating the process for firing an employee.

Randolph's testimony characterized Banks as “aloof” during the storm and said he was fired for shortcomings during his 11 months of employment and his failure to accurately portray conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf.

Banks denied shortcomings in his work and said he was fired after embarrassing Gov. Bobby Jindal in the wake of Isaac.

The night and early morning of Aug. 30 saw Isaac dump massive amounts of rain into the watershed that drains areas, including north Lafourche. Water pressed against the levees protecting Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf.

There were plans to evacuate those communities, but that didn't happen. Instead a small army of residents, parish workers, jail trustees and officers worked through the night into the morning fortifying the levees.

Though their efforts were successful, there was some overtopping of the levees in places. Phone calls from residents to New Orleans media and a news release from Jindal's office the following day sent rumors flying.

Banks said he was ordered by Randolph's husband, George, to quell those rumors.

The Daily Comet and The Courier quoted Banks as saying there was no evacuation and the situation was under control.

Randolph said Banks' statement was not approved, and it incorrectly downplayed the situation — warranting his termination.

Because the story contradicted reports of an evacuation, but was truthful, Banks argued he was made the fall guy when Jindal's office called inquiring about the discrepancy.

Randolph admitted to speaking with Jindal's spokesman Kyle Plotkin but said Banks' job failures led to his firing.

At Randolph's request, the Daily Comet and The Courier corrected the article to clarify the governor's statements.

<p>Lafourche Parish has terminated its public information officer Logan Banks for the second time since last summer. </p><p>The parish fired him in the wake of Hurricane Isaac last year, but he filed a wrongful termination complaint and won. </p><p>In February, the Lafourche Parish Civil Service Board unanimously ruled Bank's firing in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Isaac was improperly handled by Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, and his job was reinstated.</p><p>Parish Administrator Archie Chiasson confirmed that Banks was let go last week but said he could not comment on a personnel decision.</p><p>Loralei Gilliam has been hired internally to replace Banks. </p><p>The spokesman acts as a liaison for media and crafts outreach efforts for the local government.</p><p>Banks' annual salary was $44,000, not including benefits. </p><p>Gilliam originally took over for Banks after he was first terminated, but when Banks reassumed the position Gilliam stayed on with parish government. She wouldn't say Monday what kind of work she has been doing for the parish. </p><p>Banks, who couldn't be reached for comment, claims he was the scapegoat for political pressure following parish government's attempts to communicate the conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf immediately following Isaac. </p><p>The civil service board discussed his firing in a closed executive session before agreeing Banks' termination failed to meet the guidelines set forth in a civil service manual dictating the process for firing an employee.</p><p>Randolph's testimony characterized Banks as “aloof” during the storm and said he was fired for shortcomings during his 11 months of employment and his failure to accurately portray conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf. </p><p>Banks denied shortcomings in his work and said he was fired after embarrassing Gov. Bobby Jindal in the wake of Isaac.</p><p>The night and early morning of Aug. 30 saw Isaac dump massive amounts of rain into the watershed that drains areas, including north Lafourche. Water pressed against the levees protecting Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf.</p><p>There were plans to evacuate those communities, but that didn't happen. Instead a small army of residents, parish workers, jail trustees and officers worked through the night into the morning fortifying the levees.</p><p>Though their efforts were successful, there was some overtopping of the levees in places. Phone calls from residents to New Orleans media and a news release from Jindal's office the following day sent rumors flying.</p><p>Banks said he was ordered by Randolph's husband, George, to quell those rumors.</p><p>The Daily Comet and The Courier quoted Banks as saying there was no evacuation and the situation was under control.</p><p>Randolph said Banks' statement was not approved, and it incorrectly downplayed the situation — warranting his termination.</p><p>Because the story contradicted reports of an evacuation, but was truthful, Banks argued he was made the fall guy when Jindal's office called inquiring about the discrepancy.</p><p>Randolph admitted to speaking with Jindal's spokesman Kyle Plotkin but said Banks' job failures led to his firing.</p><p>At Randolph's request, the Daily Comet and The Courier corrected the article to clarify the governor's statements.</p>